Specialized Rockhopper

danedan679

A mate of a mate has emigrated to Australia, and I've been given an old black (with red writing) Rockhopper Comp. it looks old but has suspension forks

It's in an unusable condition at the moment and I just wanted to know if it's worth trying to sort it out? I have a couple of road bikes, and don't know anything about mountain bikes. Unfortunately I'm not able to get photos onto this site, but...

It's a 3 by something, but there is no rear cassette. Is there any way of telling what speed cassette it would take. The rear derailleur works but the cable is dodgy so doesn't help.

Also, looks like it has part of a ritchey headset, but only part so that looks like it might need to be replaced. How difficult is this to do?

It'll need new cables all round. Gear and brake levers look like they work.

Basically, is the core bike good enough to consider sorting it out, or shall I just get rid of it? I have some basic skills so it could be a project, but don't have a lot of money to throw at it.

Cheers

Daniel

swod1

Most likely 8 or could be 9 speed gears.

New cassette, chain and gear cables a couple of pound each wouldn't be a lot if you want to get it running to give mountain biking a go.

A picture of the bike would help, so we can advise you further

danedan679

http://s160.photobucket.com/user/dt7890/slideshow/

here are some pictures but no idea how they came out so small so not sure if they can help

danedan679

i was hoping someone might know what year it was, then i can try to get the spec. i think the headset needs sorting first as there is a lot of give there

nicklouse

Looked on specialized web site? They show all bikes back to about 2000 is not further.

As we can not see your images.

Tigger con carne

I'd say it's a worthwhile project, however old it is. I've got a '97 and 2012 RH and love them both, but especially the newer one. Is it steel or aluminium? Specialized have been making bikes with the name Rockhopper for well over 20 years so we need to see it to really know what will be involved. If it is quite old you might be able to pick up some compatible bits from Retrobike, though most "disposable" things like cables, cassettes, BB and headsets you should be able to get new from online places for not very much

danedan679

Thanks nicklouse, didn't think of that!

it's a 2002, 9 speed cassette, ritchey logic 1 1/8 thread less headset.

I'll give it a go

swod1

danedan679 wrote:

Thanks nicklouse, didn't think of that!

it's a 2002, 9 speed cassette, ritchey logic 1 1/8 thread less headset.

I'll give it a go

Well 9 speed kit isn't expensive a so you can get it back up and running.

Have you got any tools as you will need a cassette lock ring tool and chain whip to put a new cassette back on the wheel etc.

danedan679

Yeah, I can sort cassette, can replace brake cables. Where I'll come unstuck is indexing the derailleurs and the headset if it needs a new one. There is no top cap or bolt so I'll try that first to see if it sorts prob.

Plus the forks seem ok bit they don't seem to 'go down' as far as they used to judging by the wear marks on them

Cqc

Are you sure it's 9 speed? Rockhoppers aren't too fancy and in 2002 9 speed was VERY fancy...

danedan679

Not 100% as the picture on the specialized website had red forks and this has silver forks, but the rest looks similar. I'll just get a second hand 9 speed cassette to see if it fits.

Anyone know if fitting a new headset is difficult?

supersonic

The pictures do not work for me says private.

Tigger con carne

Cqc wrote:

Are you sure it's 9 speed? Rockhoppers aren't too fancy and in 2002 9 speed was VERY fancy...

My RH from 97 had 9sp so it probably is

mudsucker

My 1999 Rockhopper FS had 9 speed also :-)

Cqc

Thats funny, I guess not much progressed for a decade then, as my 2007 stumpy, which is reasonably high end is 9 speed, and at the rate they've been increaseing the number of rear gears I thought that in 2002 8 speed would bee the norm..